Systems and methods for restoring data from network attached storage

ABSTRACT

A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and routing data in storage operation systems using network attached storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a management module and a media management component connected to the management server, which interoperate with network attached storage devices to provide the communicating, browsing, verifying and routing functions.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet, or any correction thereto,are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

This application is related to the following patents and pendingapplications, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by referencein its entirety:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,478, titled PIPELINED HIGH SPEED DATA TRANSFERMECHANISM, issued Jul. 9, 2002;

Application Ser. No. 09/610,738, titled MODULAR BACKUP AND RETRIEVALSYSTEM USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A STORAGE AREA NETWORK, filed Jul. 6,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,880, issued Apr. 25, 2006;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,972, titled Logical View and Access to PhysicalStorage in Modular Data and Storage Management System, issued Apr. 1,2003;

Application Ser. No. 10/658,095, titled DYNAMIC STORAGE DEVICE POOLINGIN A COMPUTER SYSTEM, filed Sep. 9, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,970,issued Oct. 31, 2006;

Application Ser. No. 10/818,749, titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMINGSTORAGE OPERATIONS IN A COMPUTER NETWORK, filed Apr. 3, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,246,207, issued Jul. 17, 2007;

Application Ser. No. 11/640,144, titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRANULARRESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN A STORAGE NETWORK, filed Dec. 15, 2006, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,572,330, issued Oct. 29, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to performing storage operations onelectronic data in a computer network, and more particularly, tofacilitating storage operations including data stored on a networkattached storage device.

The storage of electronic data has evolved over time. During the earlydevelopment of the computer, storage of electronic data was limited toindividual computers. Electronic data was stored in Random Access Memory(RAM) or some other storage medium such as a magnetic tape or a harddrive that was a part of the computer itself.

With the advent of network computing, the storage of electronic datagradually moved from the individual computer to dedicated storagedevices accessible via a network. Some of these network storage devicesevolved over time into networked tape drives, optical libraries,Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID), CD-ROM jukeboxes, andother devices. Common architectures also include network attachedstorage devices (NAS devices) that are coupled to a particular network(or networks) and are used to provide storage capability for variousstorage operations that may be required by a particular network (e.g.,backup operations, archiving, and other storage operations including themanagement and retrieval of such information).

NAS device typically utilizes a specialized file server or networkattached storage system that connects to the network. A NAS device oftencontains a reduced capacity or minimized operating and file managementsystem (e.g., a microkernel) and normally processes input/output (I/O)requests by supporting common file sharing protocols such as the Unixnetwork file system (NFS), DOS/Windows, and server message block/commonInternet file system (SMB/CIFS). Using traditional local area networkprotocols such as Ethernet and transmission control protocol/internetprotocol (TCP/IP), a NAS device typically enables additional storage tobe quickly added by connecting to a network hub or switch.

Certain storage management procedures, such as hierarchical storagemanagement (HSM) procedures provides for movement of files from harddisk to slower, less-expensive storage media, or secondary storage overtime. As shown in FIG. 1, one migration scheme may include data transferfrom a magnetic disk 10 on a computing device to an optical disk 20 andlater to a tape 30. Conventional data management software usuallymonitors hard disk capacity and moves data from one storage level to thenext (e.g., from production level to primary storage and/or from primarystorage to secondary storage, etc.) based on storage criteria associatedwith that data such as a storage policy, age, category or other criteriaas specified by the network or system administrator. For example, anemail system such as MICROSOFT OUTLOOK™. may have attachments “aged off”(i.e., migrated when age requirement is met) from production levelstorage to a network attached storage device.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a network architecture of a system200 for performing storage operations on electronic data in a computernetwork in accordance with the prior art. As shown, system 200 includesa storage manager 201 and one or more of the following: a data storecomputer 285, a data store 290, a data agent 295, a jobs agent 240, aplurality of media management components 205, which may be referred toas media agents, a plurality of storage devices 215, a plurality ofmedia management component index caches 210 and a storage manager indexcache 230.

Data agent 295 is generally a software module that may be responsiblefor archiving, migrating, and recovering data of data store computer 285stored in a data store 290 or other memory location. Each data storecomputer 285 may have a data agent 295 and system 200 can support manydata store computers 285.

Each media management component 205 may maintain an index cache 210which stores index data that system 200 generates during storageoperations. The system may maintain two copies of the index dataregarding particular stored data. A first copy may be stored with thedata copied to a storage device 215. Thus, a tape may contain the storeddata as well as index information related to the stored data. In theevent of a system restore, the index data stored with the stored datacan be used to rebuild a media management component index 205 or otherindex useful in performing storage operations.

In addition, the media management component 205 that controls thestorage operation also may write an additional copy of the index data toits index cache 210. The data in the media management component indexcache 210 may be stored on faster media, such as magnetic media, and isthus readily available to the system for use in connection with storageoperations and other activities without having to be first retrievedfrom a slower storage device 215.

Storage manager 201 may also maintain an index cache 230. Storagemanager index cache 230 may be used to indicate, track, and associatelogical relationships and associations between components of system 200,user preferences, management tasks, and other useful data. For example,storage manager 201 may use its index cache 230 to track logicalassociations between media management components 205 and storage devices215. Index caches 230 and 210 may reside on their corresponding storagecomponent's hard disk or other fixed storage device. For example, themedia management component 205 may retrieve data from storage managerindex cache 230 regarding a storage policy and storage operation to beperformed or scheduled for a particular client 285. The media managementcomponent 205, either directly or via an interface module, maycommunicate with the data agent 295 at data store computer 285 regardingthe details of an upcoming storage operation.

Jobs agent 240 may also retrieve from index cache 230 informationrelating to a storage policy 260 associated with data store computer285. This information may be used in coordinating or establishingactions performed by one or more data agents 295 and one or more mediamanagement components 205 associated with performing storage operationsfor that particular data store computer 285. Such information may alsoinclude other information regarding the storage operation to beperformed such as retention criteria, encryption criteria, streamingcriteria, path information, etc.

Data agent 295 may package or otherwise manipulate client data stored inclient data store 290 in accordance with storage policy 260 and/oraccording to a user preference, and communicate client data to theappropriate media management component(s) 205 for processing. The mediamanagement component(s) 205 may store the data according to storagepreferences associated with storage policy 260 including storing thegenerated index data with the stored data, as well

as storing a copy of the generated index data in the media managementcomponent index cache 210.

As shown in FIG. 2, a network attached storage device 250 andcorresponding file server 254 are also connected to storage manager 201.NAS 250 and file server 254 are dedicated applications without a generalpurpose operating system and generally do not by themselves supportsoftware applications, such as a back-up.

NAS devices typically interface with other components, such as those ofstorage management system 200, or a relatively limited basis. One reasonfor this is because NAS devices tend to be proprietary. Accordingly,other storage system designers have a limited knowledge ofimplementation particulars needed to design fully compatible andintegrated interfaces for their products.

Moreover, there are many different types of NAS devices, such as WAFL byNETWORK APPLIANCE of Sunnyvale, Calif., the EMC CELERA file system bythe EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass., the NETWARE file system byNOVELL of Provo, Utah, and other vendors. Most of these systems exporttheir file systems to host computers such as the common Internet filesystem (CIFS) or the network file system (NFS), but provide no mechanismto run software on their operating systems or reside on the file systemstack to intercept read/write or other data requests.

One solution to this problem is through the use of a proxy mediamanagement component 252 connected to file server 254. Proxy media agent252 runs the applicable software used to move data to NAS 250. Proxymedia management component 252 may, for example, issue commands usingthe Network Data Management Protocol (“NDMP”).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a representation of a data structure 310 isshown that may be used by system 200 in moving data to NAS 250. Asshown, data structure 310 includes the actual data being moved in apayload 314 as well as a NDMP header 312 preceding payload 314 and NDMPtrailer 316 following the payload.

As discussed above, index cache 230 in storage manager 200 may keeptrack of certain information including the status of storage operations.If a storage operation copying data from data store 290 to NAS 250 isinterrupted, for example, index cache 230 may be used to restart theoperation and may keep track of the data path, data transferred, dataremaining, etc. If data from NAS 250 needs to be restored, data in indexcache 230 may also be used to facilitate such a restore operation.

One shortcoming of the NAS architecture described above is thevulnerability associated with the dedicated data transfer path whichincludes proxy 252. For example, if proxy media management component 252becomes inoperative or otherwise unavailable, there is generally no wayto send data to NAS 250. Similarly, if other media management componentsin the system are handling less of a load than proxy media managementcomponent 252, they are unable to assist media management component 252as it is the sole media management component designated for NAS 250.

Moreover, should storage manager 201 become inoperative or otherwiseunavailable, or its data or associated indexes be corrupted, incomplete,or otherwise unavailable, there is generally no way to rebuild index 230to with data from NAS 250.

Furthermore, with conventional systems, it is difficult to verify thecontents of NAS 250 after data is stored thereon. As discussed above, ingeneral, NAS systems are proprietary and a simple request to verify thedata stored on a NAS cannot be performed nor can information regardingthe data, such as helpful metadata, be made available.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a more robust storageoperation system that can more effectively interoperate with NASdevices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and routingdata in storage operation systems using network attached storage devicesis provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a managementmodule and a media management component connected to the managementserver, which interoperate with network attached storage devices toprovide the communicating, browsing, verifying and routing functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawingswhich are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which likereferences are intended to refer to like or corresponding partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a storage operation in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a prior art storage system;

FIG. 3 is a prior art data arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a system diagram illustrating a storage operation systemconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps associated with amethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a representation of a data structure constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps associated with amethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps associated with amethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a representation of a data structure constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps associated with amethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a graphical user interface constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating some of the steps associated with amethod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 4, a system 400 in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention is shown. System 400 is similar in certainrespects to the system described in FIG. 2, and generally includescomponents and functional blocks which have been numbered similarly todenote some similar functionality and general correspondence. Forexample, system 400 includes a storage manager 401 (storage manager 201in FIG. 2), one or more computing devices 485 (computer 285 in FIG. 2,which include clients), data store(s) 490 (data store(s) 290 in FIG. 2),data agent 495, (data agent(s) 295 in FIG. 2) jobs agent(s) 440 (jobsagent 240 in FIG. 2) media management components 405 (components 205 inFIG. 2), storage device 415 (storage devices 215 in FIG. 2), mediamanagement component index caches 410 and a storage manager index cache430 (caches 210 and 230, respectively in FIG. 2) The system and elementsthereof are further described in application Ser. No. 09/610,738, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,035,880 which is incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

One way in which system 400 has been improved as compared to the systemsshown in FIGS. 1-3, is by the addition of NAS module 406, which mayinclude verification component 407, routing component 408, browsingcomponent 409, and metadata component 411. In some embodiments, NASmodule 406 may be installed or distributed across some or all components405 to facilitate data routing, data verification and browsing, andcommunication with NAS device 450, among other things.

Data agent 495 is generally a software module that is responsible forarchiving, migrating, and otherwise coordinating the transfer andrecovery of data from computer 485 or data store 490 to another memorylocation such as storage device 415 or NAS device 450. Each computer 485may have one or more associated data agent(s) 495 and system 400 cansupport many computers 485. System 400 may provide a plurality of dataagents 495 each of which may backup, migrate, and recover dataassociated with a different application. For example, differentindividual data agents 495 may be designed to handle MICROSOFT EXCHANGEdata, LOTUS NOTES data, MICROSOFT WINDOWS file system data, MICROSOFTACTIVE DIRECTORY OBJECTS data, and other types of data known in the art.

In the case were data store computer 485 has two or more types of data,one data agent 495 may be used for each data type to archive, migrate,and restore computer 485 data (however, in other embodiments, one dataagent may handle multiple types of data). For example, to backup,migrate, and restore some or all of the data on a MICROSOFT EXCHANGE2000 server, computer 485 may use a MICROSOFT EXCHANGE 2000 Mailbox dataagent 495 to backup the EXCHANGE 2000 mailboxes, a MICROSOFT EXCHANGE2000 Database data agent 495 to backup the EXCHANGE 2000 databases, aMICROSOFT EXCHANGE 2000 Public Folder data agent 495 to backup theExchange 2000 Public Folders, and a MICROSOFT WINDOWS File System dataagent 495 to backup the file system. In some embodiments, data agents495 would may be treated as four separate data agents 495 by system 400even though they may reside on the same data store computer 485.

Each media management component 405 may maintain an index cache 410which may store index data system 400 generates during storageoperations. This may include, for example, storage operations forMICROSOFT EXCHANGE that generate index data. Index data may include, forexample, metadata or other information regarding the location of thestored data on a particular media, information regarding the content ofthe data stored such as file names, sizes, creation dates, formats,application types, and other file-related criteria, informationregarding one or more clients associated with the data stored,information regarding one or more storage policies (discussed below),storage criteria, or storage preferences associated with the datastored, compression information, retention-related information,encryption-related information, stream-related information, and othertypes of information.

Data in index cache 410 thus provides the system with an efficientmechanism for performing storage operations including information usefulin locating files for recovery operations and for managing and trackingstored data. The system generally maintains two or more copies of theindex data regarding particular stored data. A first copy may be storedwith the data copied to a storage device 415, the other in the indexitself. Thus, a tape may contain the stored data as well as indexinformation related to the stored data.

In the event of a system restore or other data restore or refreshoperation, the index data included with the stored data may located onstorage device 415 and be used to rebuild a media management componentindex 405 or other index useful in performing storage operations whichmay include repopulating its index cache 410.

Storage manager 401 may maintain an index cache 430. Storage managerindex cache 430 may be used to indicate, track, and associate logicalrelationships and associations between components of system 400, userpreferences, management tasks, and other useful data. For example,storage manager 401 may use its index cache 430 to track logicalassociations between media management components 405 and storage devices415. Storage manager 401 may also use its index cache 430 to track thestatus of storage operations to be performed, storage patternsassociated with the system components such as media use, storage growth,network bandwidth, service level agreement (“SLA”) compliance levels,data protection levels, storage policy information, storage criteriaassociated with user preferences, retention criteria, storage operationpreferences, and other storage-related information.

Index caches may 430 and 410 may reside on their corresponding storagecomponent's hard disk or other fixed or dynamic storage device or onother associated memory. For example, media management component 405 mayretrieve information from storage manager index cache 410 regarding astorage policy and storage operation to be performed or scheduled for aparticular computer 485. Media management component 405, either directlyor via an interface module, may communicates with the data agent 295 atthe data store computer 485 regarding the storage operation.

Jobs agent 440 may also retrieve from index cache 430 a storage policy460 associated with the data store computer 485 and use information fromone or more storage policies 460 to communicate to data agent 495 one ormore media management components 405 associated with performing storageoperations for that particular data store computer 485 as well as otherinformation regarding the storage operation to be performed such asretention criteria, encryption criteria, streaming criteria, etc.

A storage policy is generally a data structure or other information,which may include a set of preferences and other storage criteria forperforming storage operations. The preferences and storage criteria mayinclude, but are not limited to: a storage location, relationshipsbetween system components, network pathway to utilize, retentionpolicies, data characteristics, compression or encryption requirements,preferred system components to utilize in a storage operation, and othercriteria relating to a storage operation. A storage policy may be storedto a storage manager index, to archive media as metadata for use inrestore operations or other storage operations, or to other locations orcomponents of the system.

Data agent 495 may package or otherwise manipulate client data stored indata store 490 in accordance with storage policy 460 and/or according toa user preference, and may communicate this data to the appropriatemedia management component(s) 405 for processing. Media managementcomponent(s) 405 may store the data according to storage preferencesassociated with the storage policy including storing the generated indexdata with the stored data, as well as storing a copy of the generatedindex data in the media management component index cache 410.

Media management component 405 may further include a NAS module 406including a metadata component 411. NAS module 406 may be implemented asa software module that may be installed on one or more media managementcomponents 405. NAS module 406 may interoperate with components 405,data agents 495, and/or storage manager(s) 401 to coordinate and verifythe transfer of data from computer(s) 485 to NAS device 450.

As shown in FIG. 4, media management component 405 may further include aNAS component 235 associated with NAS module 406. NAS modules 406 may beassociated or resident with each component 405 or may be distributedacross various component 405 in system 400 (e.g., every other component405 may have a NAS module 406, one in three component 405 may have a NASmodule 406, or any other desired distribution). Moreover, in someembodiments, one or more components 405 may share a NAS module 406 whichmay be moved as necessary (e.g., float) to accommodate system storageoperations. This provides system 400 with a robust set of routingoptions to reach NAS devices 450 through multiple components 405.

In some embodiments, each media management component 405 is may becapable of handling storage operations to either a standard storagedevice 415, or to work with a file server 454 to handle copy operationswith a NAS storage device 450. NAS components 435 may, for example,operate using the NDMP protocol. Resource allocation for moving datafrom data store 490 to NAS 450 may now be based on other relevantcharacteristics instead of being limited to a particular defined proxymedia agent. For example, a data paths 402 and 404 from data from datastore 490 to NAS 450 may be defined by properties of NAS 450—for exampleif NAS 450 includes only particular types of data such as EXCHANGE orOUTLOOK or if NAS 450 is further defined as being the OUTLOOK data for aparticular individual—such characteristics may be taken into accountwhen defining which media management component 405 to use for NAS device450.

Data path 402 and 404 may also be based on storage policy 460 definedfor data store 490. For example, a storage policy 460 may be defined foreach particular type of data or application—such as EXHANGE or OUTLOOK.The storage policy could define, for example, where data is to bestored, the duration of the storage, and how many copies should be made.Each storage policy may define one or multiple data paths for movingdata from data store 490 to NAS 450. Each data path may include a singlemedia management component or multiple management components and a setof storage devices 415 and/or NAS devices 450.

Storage policies 460 may define a preferred data path 402 and 404 forhandling data moving from data store 490 to NAS 450, or define a loadbalancing algorithm so that data paths may be utilized that have moreavailability than other data paths. The actual data path selected may,for example, be first based on the properties of NAS device 450, such asdata types or application, and then chosen based on storage policy 460for a preferred data path and/or load balancing. For example, additionalNAS devices 450 (not shown) may be operating a minimum capacity withothers operating at a higher or near maximum capacity (also not shown).In this case, it may be desirable to distribute data load tounderutilized resources. This may be done based on preferences instorage policy or certain load distribution algorithms the govern systemoperation. For example, in one embodiment, it may be desirable todistribute load across multiple NAS modules 406, NAS devices 450 andassociated transmission links such that a substantially evendistribution is obtained. In other circumstances, for example, when acertain NAS module 406 is unavailable, it may be desired to continue tosend data to a certain NAS device 450, using, however, a different NASmodule 406. This may be accomplished with embodiments of the presentinvention by routing data storage operations to a different NAS module406 which may communicate and supervise storage operations to theoriginal NAS device 450, even though the now unavailable module 406 waspreviously handling such operations.

In this way, if a certain media management component 405 becomesinoperative, storage manager 400 may select another media managementcomponent 405 in defining a data path to NAS 450. Moreover, storagepolicy 460 may be defined to perform load balancing. When load balancingis chosen, one option is for storage manager 400 to assign the leastloaded media management component to handle a particular storageoperation. For example, if a storage policy has three (3) data paths andten (10) storage operations to perform, the ten jobs may be spreadacross available media management components. This may mean thatmultiple operations for a single NAS 450 may be balanced across multiplemedia management components 405. File server 454 may be used to keeptrack of applicable copy information so as to improve routinginter-connectivity.

Storage manager 401 may be also used to monitor the capacities ofrespective media management components 405 and dynamically alter datapath 402 and 404. In this way, a copy operation may begin using a firstmedia management component and a first data path and then, because of,for example, a change in the load in system 400, a second data pathincluding a different media management component may be selected tocomplete the copy operation. For example, if the first media managementcomponent that started the copy operation becomes overburdened orinoperative, storage manager 400 may decide to move the copy operationto a different media management component. Moreover, storage manager 401may choose a data path so as to most efficiently utilize storage media.For example, if using a first data path may result in using a lastportion of a first storage medium and a first portion of a secondstorage medium, storage manager 401 may choose a different data pathwhich results in only a single storage medium being used.

Referring now to FIG. 5, some steps associated with a method forfacilitating storage operations in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention is shown. The method shown in the figure could operate using,for example, system 400 shown in FIG. 4. As shown, at step 502, arequest may be received to perform a storage operation including sendingdata to a network attached storage device. At step 504, a data path maybe determined for the source data to the network attached storagedevice. This may include a determination based on a storage policy orother routing preference. It may also further involve an analysis of thenetwork operating conditions including network congestion of utilizationrate of the resources defined in the transmission path, and certainspecified load balancing requirements or preferences.

If one or more resources as initially specified are beyond a threshold,the path and/or the destination NAS device may be altered to ensurecertain system management operating conditions are achieved/maintained.For example, if a certain media management component, transmission pathor destination device is operating beyond a specified level, some or allof those resources may be altered, such that other resources are usedinstead to meet or maintain system operating specifications. This mayinclude specifying another media management component to handle storageoperations to a NAS device that was previously associated with anotherdifferent media management component. Moreover, it will be understoodthat such resource reallocation may occur dynamically (e.g., uponconsideration of network operating conditions), or as specified by auser, or in recognition of a system change, such as removal of certainhardware such as a NAS device, or computing devices, etc. This may beaccomplished by a storage manager or other system management module.

At step 506, once the route and destination resource has beenestablished, the storage operation is performed. This may involve movingone or more chunks of data associated with an archive file, etc. Thismay also involve confirming that the data has successfully been stored,and writing file location, size, and other index information to indexesin media management components or storage managers.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the system may perform additionalmonitoring of the resources operation while performing the storageoperation to determine the effect of the operation on system resources(step 508). Such load measurement may determine, for example, whetherparticular devices in the system are more loaded with data than otherdevices and also determines whether particular devices have no load—suchas, for example, if such devices have become inoperative. Thisadditional information may be used at step 510, where the system maydetermine if there is a load imbalance or whether that a device on thechosen data path is no longer operative. This may be confirmed byperforming certain tests on the data path to determine, if, it is infact inoperative. In some embodiments, such further monitoring may beperformed at step 504. Moreover, based on this information, the systemmay further redefine or reallocate system resources to distribute dataload substantially evenly across network resources, or conserve mediausage, or promote other load balancing goals (e.g., distribute dataoperations across network resources in view of a the need to remainwithin a copy or backup window, or other operating condition such as adata path preference etc.). Moreover, it will be understood that systemmonitoring and analysis with respect to load balancing may be performediteratively at steps 504 and 510 with resource reallocation occurring ona continuous basis based on the results of the monitoring and analysis.

Referring back now to FIG. 4, media management component 405 may furtherinclude a metadata component 411. As data is copied from data store 490is to NAS 450, the path may include media management component 405 andmetadata component 411. Metadata component 411 may generate certainstorage metadata, which may include, for example a storage header andtrailer, including management information associated with system 400,which may be appended to any data copied (such as a data “chunk”). Thismetadata may include the size of the data, path information, offsets,client ID information, information relating to the source data such as,which archive file a chunk may be associated with, what files are in thechunk, chunk number, and any other data useful for data management, etc.This metadata may be separated into a header and trailer and appended tothe data as described below.

For example, in FIG. 6, data chunk 690 and metadata header 678 andmetadata trailer 682 may be combined to produce the data structureshown. Metadata may be separated between header 678 and trailer 682 asdesired for system management purposes. For example, header 678 mayinclude the size of the data, and offsets, while trailer 682 may includepath information, client ID information, job ID, information relating tothe source data such as, which archive file a chunk may be associatedwith, what files are in the chunk, chunk number, etc. However, anyuseful arrangement may be used, if desired.

In operation, media management component 405 and metadata component 411may generate the data arrangement shown in FIG. 6 and using writecommands, for example, the NDMP protocol, may send data along withmetadata as shown in FIG. 6 to file server 454 for subsequent storage inNAS 450. In some embodiments, file server 454 may remove any NDMP headeror trailer, and add metadata created by component 411 and store thecombination on NAS 450. Data may be retrieved by a media managementcomponent when a computing device 485 or storage manager 401 issues adata or system restore request. In this case, the media managementcomponent may query file server 454 on behalf of the requesting devicefor the requested information (which may be retrieved via paths 413 and414 and subsequently routed to the appropriate destination).

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a method for facilitating storageoperations including NAS in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. The process could be used with, for example, system 400 shownin FIG. 4. As step 702, a request is received by a storage manager ormedia management component to move data to a network attached storagedevice. At step 704, a routine, which may be recursive, is initiated foreach group of data, such as a chuck, to be moved. This may involveevaluating path and destination information or preferences, andobtaining metadata relating to the information as further describedherein.

At step 706, a chunk of data from the data source is moved or copied toor processed by an applicable media management component. This mayinvolve processing on a source computing device prior to movement a NASdevice. At step 708, the media management component may issues anapplicable write command and generates metadata for the received data(in some embodiments, a data structure including data and metadata, iscreated). At step 710, a file server receives the write command, thedata and the metadata. At step 712, the file server combines the dataand metadata, writes the resulting data structure to the NAS.

Referring to FIG. 8 there is shown a process for retrieving data from aNAS in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The process maybe used with, for example, system 400 shown in FIG. 4. At step 820, arequest is received to restore data stored on a NAS. At step 822, aroutine, which may be recursive, is initiated for each set or chunk ofdata which may request a specific chunk, monitor data received andresponse to the request, and terminate the retrieval operation once thedesired data is retrieved.

At step 824, a file server retrieves data and associated metadata from aNAS in response to the request. In some embodiments, the file server mayseparate, chunk data and metadata and provide each to the mediamanagement device. At step 826, the data and metadata may be forwardedto a media management component or a computing device. At step 828, themedia management component may use the data and metadata to identify androute the requested information to the source requesting suchinformation and “unpack” or otherwise obtain the data (e.g., a computingdevice requesting a data restore operation). In certain circumstances,the metadata associated with the stored data may be desired, forexample, in the event of a system restore, to reconstruct one or moremedia management or storage manager indexes.

Referring again back to FIG. 4, NAS module 406 may further include a NASverification component 407 for verifying that the information requestedinformation is properly stored (or retrieved) from NAS device 450. Forexample, in operation, NAS verification module 411 may issue a requestto file server 454 to restore certain data stored in NAS device 450 to adata destination 412. The request may include, for example, the pathstored on NAS device 450, whether backup information stored on NAS 450was a full or incremental backup, a list of the paths to restore, adestination path, an option not to write the data stored in NAS 450,etc. This request may be issued in order to obtain metadata associatedwith stored data which may be compared with certain index information toconfirm the requested data is available, was properly stored and may beretrieved.

File server 454 may send a retrieve request to NAS 450, that reads datastored on NAS 450, and forwards the responsive data to media managementcomponent 405. NAS verification module 407 may read the metadataassociated with the retrieved data and forward the data to destination412. In some embodiments, data destination 412 may be a null or otherempty port such as air and does not include a storage medium. This maybe performed in cases where only metadata is desired for verificationpurposes.

Referring to FIG. 9, a data structure 906 constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention is shown. As shown, datastructure 906 may include a dump header 920, a data payload 922 and atrailer 922. Dump header 920 may include, for example, a description andsize of data payload 922, and a list of the files in payload 922. Fileserver 454 may further modify data structure 906 and add a label field926, a file marker field 928, a chunk header 930, a file marker 932, afile marker 936, a chunk trailer 938, a file marker 940, and a trailer942 to produce data structure 908. Label 926 may label data structure908. File markers 928, 932, 936 and 940 may separate different portionsof data structure 908. Chunk header 930 may include header informationfor each chunk of data 922. Similarly, chunk trailer includes trailerinformation for each chunk of data 922.

NAS verification component 407 receives data from NAS 450 in response toa request and may compare certain information in data structure 908 withinformation from an index in media management component 405 or storagemanager 401. For example, verification component 407 may compareinformation in dump header 920 to a corresponding entry stored in indexcache 430 or in index cache 410. Such information was initiallygenerated when data 906 was first stored on NAS 450. Further, when NASverification module 407 restores data 908, the restoration processitself generates metadata which may also be compared with meta datastored in index cache 430 or index cache 410 (e.g., unique or somewhatunique rebuild information, etc.).

The results of such comparisons may be used to verify the contents ofpayload 922 and may be performed using techniques known in the art—suchas checksums, hashing, etc. if the comparisons are favorable, mediamanagement component 405 then forwards data 908 to data destination 412.In some embodiments, data destination 412 may be a “dummy” device, airor other null port and excludes a storage medium, if the metadata isdesired. This increases the speed of the process because less time isuses as compared to media management component 405 actually writing datastructure 408 to a storage medium. Further, no extra storage space needsto be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 10, a flow chart illustrating some of the stepsinvolved in a method for validating data stored on a network attachedstorage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention isshown. The method in FIG. 10 may be implemented using, for example,system 400 discussed above. At step 1002, a request is made to restoredata stored on a NAS. This may involve a computing device or storagemanager contacting a media management component with such as request.Next, at step 1004, a media management component may communicate with aNAS device through a file server and locate the data requested. Afterthe requested data has been located, data from the NAS may be retrievedand sent from the file server and restored. At step 1006, certainmetadata such as a dump header or other portions from the data stored inthe NAS may be extracted and compared with metadata stored in an indexcache. If the comparison is favorable, the metadata or other data may beused for system restore or management purposes. For example, thisinformation may be used to verify that the requested information isstored on the NAS device and may be retrieved, if necessary (e.g., forrepopulating a computing device with application data or repopulating amanagement database with system management information, etc.).

If the comparison is unfavorable, the query may be processed severaltimes, until a favorable result is obtained, or until a certain numberof unfavorable results are obtained, in which the query may terminate asa time out, and system indexes or processes updated to reflect therequested information could not be found, and therefore not retrieved.Assuming that a favorable result is obtained, the metadata may beretrieved and the data from the NAS is sent to a null port which doesnot include a storage medium (step 1008). Moreover, data that has beenobtained may be merged into any existing media management or storagemanager database to repopulate an index or other databases in the eventa restore is desired.

Thus, by requesting to restore data from a NAS and reading header and/orother metadata from the NAS data, a system and method for verifying datastored on a NAS is realized.

As shown in FIG. 4, NAS module 406 may further include a NAS browsingcomponent 409 for allowing a user to browse information or data storedon NAS device 450. For example, in operation, NAS browsing component 409may be invoked, for example, on a computing device 485 and issue arequest to media management component 405 for information regardingcertain data stored in NAS device 450. The request may include, forexample, a request for a file system overview of the files stored on NASdevice 450, including certain information or properties about thosefiles.

Once the information is obtained, a graphical user interface on acomputing device may display the information in a familiar graphicalfile format with an icon representing each file. This is generally shownin FIG. 11. As shown, screen 1101 may be similar to a WINDOWS filesystem display screen, which may include file icons 1102 representingNAS files under management. In operation, a user may select one of icons1102 and invoke a pulldown or other menu 1103 which lists a set ofoptions or operations that may be performed on the various files shown.For example, this may include a properties selection which may displayvarious properties of the files under management including the size ofthe data, path information, offsets, client ID information, applicationinformation, date copied, storage policies associated with the data,information relating to the source data such as, which archive file achunk may be associated with, what files are in the chunk, chunk number,and any other data useful for data management, etc.

The user may obtain this information by choosing a particular file 1102and selecting the properties option 1104 from pull down menu 1103. Itwill be understood each property may be presented in a layered or tieredformat that additional details may be obtained by clicking or selectinga particular property and that other options may also be available (notshown).

Referring to FIG. 12, a flow chart illustrating some of the stepsinvolved in a method for browsing data stored on a network attachedstorage device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention isshown. The method in FIG. 12 may be implemented using, for example,system 400 discussed above. At step 1202, a request may be made to viewfiles stored on one or more NAS devices. This may involve a userinvoking a browser on a computing device. At this point the user may beprompted to select a certain network of interest. Once selected, thesystem may scan the selected network(s) for associated NAS devices. Alist of available devices may be displayed, from which the user maychoose one or more devices of interest. In some embodiments, a user mayrequest a list of files or application programs, and the system maygenerate a list of available NAS devices that include the specifiedinformation.

Once a user selects one or more NAS devices from the list, a query maysent to the system of those devices for a list of files undermanagement. The system may obtain these lists, for example, from asystem index or through direct queries to the NAS devices. Next, at step1204, the user may select certain files to receive more informationabout them. This may involve the restoration process described abovewhere files are restored to obtain metadata for browsing purposes (step1206).

Next, at step 1208, the information may be displayed to the user forfurther inspection. At this point, the user may further directoperations with respect to the displayed files. For example, the usermay direct a full or partial data restore from the NAS device and maydirect certain clients be repopulated with the restored data. Similarly,the user may update or refresh certain system management components suchas a storage manager database or index or media management componentindex to be updated. Other operations are also contemplated, such asdirecting the copying of data or management information to a disk, otherportable media or to another network location.

Systems and modules described herein may comprise software, firmware,hardware, or any combination(s) of software, firmware, or hardwaresuitable for the purposes described herein. Software and other modulesmay reside on servers, workstations, personal computers, computerizedtablets, PDAs, and other devices suitable for the purposes describedherein. Software and other modules may be accessible via local memory,via a network, via a browser or other application in an ASP context, orvia other means suitable for the purposes described herein. Datastructures described herein may comprise computer files, variables,programming arrays, programming structures, or any electronicinformation storage schemes or methods, or any combinations thereof,suitable for the purposes described herein. User interface elementsdescribed herein may comprise elements from graphical user interfaces,command line interfaces, and other interfaces suitable for the purposesdescribed herein. Screenshots presented and described herein can bedisplayed differently as known in the art to input, access, change,manipulate, modify, alter, and work with information.

Moreover, it will be appreciated that the systems and methods providedherein are intended to exemplary and not limiting and that additionalelements or steps may be added or performed in different order, ifdesired.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications as will beevident to those skilled in this art may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is thus not tobe limited to the precise details of methodology or construction setforth above as such variations and modification are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing data in a storage system,the method comprising: receiving at a media agent component comprisingcomputer hardware, a request to restore at least one requested data filefrom a Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein the at least onerequested data file is restored to a first storage device with a firstfile management system, and the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Devicecomprises a second file management system that is different than thefirst file management system; directing with the media agent, a fileprocessor to retrieve a data structure from the Network-Attached Storage(NAS) Device, wherein a first data structure is retrieved with thesecond file management system, the first data structure comprising atleast a header, a chunk of data, and a trailer, the header comprising atleast a set of file markers that identify a plurality of data files in achunk of data in the data structure, the trailer comprising at leastmetadata about the plurality of data files in the chunk of data;obtaining, with the file processor, the metadata in the trailer aboutthe plurality of data files; and reconstructing an index using themetadata, wherein the index is accessible by the media agent.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the data structure retrieved from theNetwork-Attached Storage (NAS) Device is verified by comparing the datastructure to an index associated with the media agent.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein a file server receives the data structure from theNetwork-Attached Storage (NAS) Device via a first network protocol andrestores the requested data file to the first storage device via asecond network protocol.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the firstnetwork protocol is a Network Data Management Protocol.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the trailer further comprises a second set of set offile markers that identify the plurality of data files in the chunk ofdata.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising browsing the pluralityof files in the chunk of data.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising reconstructing an index cache with at least the metadata inthe trailer.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifyingthe data structure stored on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Devicebased on index data associated with the media agent of a storagemanager.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determiningwhether the data structure stored on the Network-Attached Storage (NAS)Device is part of an incremental backup of the at least one requesteddata file.
 10. The method of claim 1, further creating an index thatidentifies the path of the data structure on Network-Attached Storage(NAS) Device that contains the at least one requested data file.
 11. Asystem for managing data in a storage system, the system comprising: afirst storage device that stores multiple data files with a first filemanagement system; a media agent component comprising computer hardwarethat receives a request to restore at least one requested data file froma Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device to the storage device, and theNetwork-Attached Storage (NAS) Device comprises a second file managementsystem that is different than the first file management system; a fileserver comprising computer hardware that is remotely located from aNetwork-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, the file server in communicationwith the media agent, the file server configured to: retrieve a datastructure from the Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device, wherein afirst data structure is retrieved with the second file managementsystem, the first data structure comprising at least a header, a chunkof data, and a trailer, the header comprising at least a set of filemarkers that identify a plurality of data files in a chunk of data inthe data structure, the trailer comprising at least metadata about theplurality of data files in the chunk of data; obtain the at least onerequested data file based at least in part on accessing the set of filemarkers in the header and metadata in the trailer to identify thelocation of the requested data file in the chunk of data; and restorethe at least one requested data file to the first storage device withthe first file management system by transferring the at least onerequested data file to the media agent.
 12. The system of claim 11further comprising a verification component comprising computer hardwarethat verifies the data structure retrieved from the Network-AttachedStorage (NAS) Device by comparing the data structure to an indexassociated with the media agent.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein thefile server receives the data structure from the Network-AttachedStorage (NAS) Device via a first network protocol and restores therequested data file to the first storage device via a second networkprotocol.
 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first network protocolis a Network Data Management Protocol.
 15. The system of claim 11wherein the trailer further comprises a second set of set of filemarkers that identify the plurality of data files in the chunk of data.16. The system of claim 11 wherein the media agent is in communicationwith a browsing component that browses the plurality of files in thechunk of data by accessing information.
 17. The system of claim 11,wherein the media agent is further configured to reconstruct an indexcache with at least the metadata in the trailer.
 18. The system of claim11, further comprising identifying the data structure stored on theNetwork-Attached Storage (NAS) Device based on index data associatedwith the media agent or a storage manager.
 19. The system of claim 11,wherein the media agent determines whether the data structure stored onthe Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Device is part of an incrementalbackup of the at least one requested data file.
 20. The system of claim11, wherein the media agent creates an index associated that identifiesthe path of the data structure on Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Devicethat contains the at least one requested data file.